Belfast in the late 1750s was entering a critical period in its development. It was still a relatively small town, one of the Ulster plantation’s lesser centres, yet it was growing. A visiting judge in 1759 was so struck by the number of new merchants and traders that he wrote ‘[Belfast] seems to me to be the London of the North of Ireland.’ This was in stark contrast to 1752 (the year in which the Belfast Charitable Society was formed) when the town was in danger of losing its trade as its physical fabric had been deteriorating. It was in this context that Arthur Chichester succeeded his uncle (Arthur Chichester, 4th earl of Donegall) as the 5th earl of Donegall in 1757.
Chichester’s accession prompted a period of evictions, finings, and the making of fresh leases at much increased figures in an effort to get a grip of the situation. The money raised was used largely to develop and embellish his English estates and made Chichester one of the wealthiest men in the country.
Despite living in his away from the town, the 5th earl did devote some attention to Belfast’s development and made many benefactions to the town including the Exchange, Assembly Rooms, the Parish Church of St. Ann, as well as land for the White Linen Hall and the publicly funded Poor House (Clifton House). This was an urban renaissance for Belfast.
After some initial wrangling between the Society and the earl’s agents Donegall eventually expressed his readiness to cooperate with the Society by granting the necessary land that would be required to erect a building that would be ‘most ornamental to the Town of Belfast’. A site was secured ‘on the North side of the street commonly called Carrickfergus-Petershill’ which was situated at the head of Donegall Street.
On 1st August 1771 a foundation stone was laid. It recorded that ‘The Right Honorable Arthur, Earl of Donegall, and the Principal inhabitants of Belfast Founded this Charity; and his Lordship Granted to it, In Perpetuity, Eight Acres of Land, On Part of which this building is Erected’.
The Irish Parliament in Dublin passed an Act which incorporated the Belfast Charitable Society on 1st June 1774. The Act created a corporation with the name “The President and Assistants of the Belfast Charitable Society’ and that Arthur Earl of Donegall ‘shall be President thereof during his life’.
Arthur Chichester was later created earl of Belfast and 1st marquess of Donegall on 4th July 1791.
Despite his perceived generosity to the growing town and inhabitants of Belfast, Chichester was judged by his contemporaries as one of the worst absentee landlords of his time.
